Lifting truck



Feb. 9, 1932.

W. STUEBING, JR

LIFTING TRUCK Original Filed July 24, `1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l l l qui"705 e HMM fr wmf' fw TTORNEYS? Feb. 9, 1932. Wl ,STQEBINQ JR 1,844,875

LIFTING TRUCK Original Filed July 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 will, v

| NVENTOR Patented Feb. 9, 1932 KU-'Nrriin A. CORBORATION F CONNECTICUTPATENT oFFicek -f i WILLIAM; sTUnnING, .un oF CINCINNATI, OHTQASSIGNOB,BY .MESNE .msreNNrENTs,r4

To THE ,YALna ToWNE MANrr-NAcTUmNe COMPANY, onsTAMFoRD, CONNECTICUT, f y

TJFTING TnUox f applicati@ med :diy-24, 192s, seriarNo. 295,004.`Renewed November 11, 1930. 4

The present invention relates toflifting trucks ofY the typek in ywhichthe steering or draft tongue is made operative to lift the load and isaddressedto the provisionof improved vQi, lifting mechanism whereby thetongue may so operate-,regardless of its lateral steering position andgenerally-tothe provisiono an improved` side-lift truck. Theconstruetion and mode of operationyofa particular 1o illustrativeembodimentthereof'is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1is a view in sideelevationof a liftingtruck embodying `the inventionshowing the parts the positions assumed at `the end` 15 of theelevatingoperation;l y f Fig. 2 vis a similar View Ybut showing theelevating frame inits lowered position and thek draft tongue sodetachedfrom associated parts' as to be inoperativeiorf lifting pur aoposes; Y Y-f ,Y Y Y Figi-3 is a viewin front elevation 'showing the-parts in thesame position as in Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 4 is a view'in rontelevation showing thegparts in the samepositionas; in: Fig.,3, 25 except that the steering tonguekhas beenswung to one side and certain partsjare shown in crossfsection. f v ATheparticular truck shown in the draw ings is mounted on a plurality ofwheels, the S0 front or steering wheels being illustrated. ,Y

The wheels are suitably mounted in a main frame 5 which carries above ita load-supporting elevatin i frame 6. Rotatably mounted at' the orwardfend of'v the.` main fra-me asteering head 7 y is vertically r positionedto turn in a transverse v yoke 18 Which forms a part of the. main frame5,being attached thereto by boltslO.

As. bestfseen in Fig. 4, the swiveled steer.- ing headis centered inroller bearings 11 arranged to sustainI bothy vertical.Y and lateralstresses. y u j The forward end ofthe elevatinggframe 6 is connected tothe main frame at leach side of theV truck by means of links 12.pivotally connected to the main rameand to the ele,- vating framebybolts-0r .other suitable pivot members e13 vand .14. The', linksf- 12are ipro- .5,0 videdr with extensions to which arepivotaglly the onlykones n connectedatpoints 16 the spaced lowerends` of a link in the formof a yokeV which eX- ,tends above and'V transversely of the truck.fra-mes and is provided` at its upper-end withmeans ,for connectionwith the steering. tongue l19. Y

The connection at the upper end of the yoke 15 comprisesauniversal joint17 which connects with the arm 18 4which is` mounted to` swing in avertical plane aroundthe pivot 20 integral with the extension 21 of thesteeringhead?.l n, l

As best shown in Figs. `2 and r4, when the elevating frame Gis in itslower position the arm 18 liesina generally vertical position, in whichposition its upper end may be ob` served to have a notch 22 shaped't'oreceive the free endvof the counter-weighted hook 23 which is pivotedfor limited movement upon the steering tongue 19. n

. The steering tongue 19 is pivoted upon the extension 21 on thesteering head 7'7, con centrically with the arm 18, so that asthesteering tongue19 isswung to its upright position the counter-weightedvhookf23, will ride over the upper end of the arm ,lSfand engageV `thenotchr 22. f 4

The proper engagement kof the counter- Weighted hook 23 withthe-not-Ch22 is assured by the location upon the steeringtongue 19 of the limitingpin 24 which pITeYeDS the hook from. turning-ina clockwise directionbeyondthe position in which itisshownlin Fig. 2. This limitation of themovement of the hook enables the counter-weight 25, integral with thehook, to rotate the latter, into engagement with the notch y22 `when thetongue 19 is thro-wnsmartly into itsnupright position.

Oncethe, hook' 23 hasengaged the notch v22, the steering tongue 19,1naybe swung V4downwardly,'turning ythe arm V1555 about its pivot' 20 and sokelevating the yoke` 15, which, in Y turn', causes the links 12 toswinglabout theirpivots and to raise theelevating frame rk6 upwardly andlongitudinally, rthe universal connection between the arm'18yandy theyokel permitting this raisingfoperationntovbe performed regardlessof thelateral steering position o the tongue 19 which, as. already` indicated,is l ioc free to swing not only in vertical planes but also to be turnedlaterally to rotate the steerinpost 7 to steer the truck. n

1 1 shows the parts in elevated positlon, in Wiich position theelevating frame 6 is held against undesired lowering movement by meansof a latch 26 pivoted upon any suitable portion of the main frame andprovided with an extension convenient for operation by 10 the foot ofthe operative. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, thelatch 26 engages with the hook 27 fixed to the elevating frame 6.

A slight upward movement of the tongue 19 from the position shown inFig. l will allow the counter-weight to turn the hook 23 out ofengagement with the arm 18, so that an accidental release of the latch26 and the consequent descent of the elevating frame 20 6, with itsload, will not result in a sudden upward throw of the tongue 19 to thepossible injury of the operative.

Further provision for the slow and safe descent of the elevating frame 6from its '25 upper to its lower position may be made by interposing ausual hydraulic check (not shown between the elevating frame and themain rame.

In operation, when the truck has been a0 positioned beneath its load andit is desired to lift the load, it is only necessary to throw thesteering tongue to its vertical position to effect the automaticconnection of the lifting elements with the tongue; and when the loadhas been elevated, a slight return movement of the tongue 19automatically disconnects the parts, not only for the purpose abovementioned, but also to permit the elevating platform and its load to besubsequently released for descent without in any way affecting thesteering tongue.

The foregoing description of a particular embodiment of the invention isfor the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as defining thelimits of the invention.

Claims:

1. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, an elevating frame mountedthereon, links supporting the elevating frame on said main frame, asteering and lifting tongue pivotally mounted on said main frame, frameelevating means operatively connected to said links and adapted to beactuated by said ton ue, and means to connect said tongue to sai frameelevating means including a latch 'mounted to move automatically intooperative connecting position when said tongue is moved to uprightposition and to move automatically out of operative connecting positionwhen said tongue is moved upwardly from a lower position.

-2. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, a steering and liftingtongue pivotally mounted thereon, an elevating frame, a o5 memberbearing at one point upon the elevating frame and at another point uponthe main frame, an elevating member bearing at one point upon saidfirst-mentioned member, an intermediate member adapted to engage saidelevating member at usual steering positions of said tongue, and meansfor automatically connecting said intermediate member for liftingmovement with said tongue when the latter is moved to its operativeposition.

3. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, a steering and liftingtongue pivotally mounted thereon, an elevating frame, a member bearingat one point upon the elevating framek and at another point upon themain frame, an elevating member bearin at one point upon saidfirst-mentioned mem r, an intermediate member adapted to engage saidelevating member at usual steering positions of the steering tongue,means for connecting the said intermediate member with said tongue, andmeans for automaticall effecting disconnection of said interme iatemember from said tongue when the latter is moved upwardly from a lowerposition.

4. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, a steering and liftingtongue pivotally mounted thereon, an elevatin frame mounted on said mainframe, a mem er bearing at one point upon the elevating frame and atanother point upon the main frame, elevating means having one portionconnected to'said member and another portion connected to said tongue atusual steering positions thereof, and means for automatically connectingsaid elevating means for lifting movementwith said tongue when saidtongue is moved to its upright position and for automaticallydisconnecting said elevating means when the tongue is moved upwardlyfrom a lower position.

5. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, a steering wheel pivotallymounted thereon, a steering and lifting tongue operatively connected tosaid steering wheel, an elevatin frame, a unitary lever mounted uponsaid main frame for raising said elevating frame, an elevating memberconnected to said lever, another lever connected by a universal joint tosaid elevating member, and means operative in any usual lateral positionof said tongue to automatically disconnect said second-mentioned leverfrom lifting engagement with said tongue by an upward movement of thelatter and to automatically connect said second-mentioned lever withsaid tongue when the latter is moved to upright position.

6. A lifting truck comprising a main frame, a steering wheel pivotallymounted thereon, an elevating frame, a steering and lifting tongueoperatively connected with said steering wheel, a lever operativelyconnected with said steering wheel, an elevating member connected by auniversal 'oint to said lever, a unitary member pivota y con- 13 nectedto said elevating frame and to said elevating member, and meansoperative between said tongue and said lever to efect lifting connectionand disconnection therebetween in any steering position of said tongue.7. A lifting truck comprising a main frame', an elevating frame mountedthereon, a steering and lifting tongue pivotally connected with saidmain frame, a link operatively inw terposed between said main frame andsaid elevating frame, a second link pivotally connected to saidfirst-mentioned link, a lever mounted for lateral movement with saidtongue, a universal joint connection between 15 said lever and saidsecond-mentioned link, and means for automatically connecting said leverwith and disconnecting said lever from operative lifting relation tosaid tongue.

8. A lifting truck comprising a main 20 frame, an elevating framemounted thereon,

a steering head in said main frame, a steering and lifting tonguepivotally connected to said steering head, a system of leversoperatively associated with said main and elevat- 25 ing frames andoperable to lift said elevating frame', a lifting lever pivoted on saidsteering .head and universally operatively connected with a lever ofsaid lever system, and means interconnecting said lifting 3o tongue andlifting lever at the will of they operator whereby operation of saidtongue t will elevate said elevating frame.

9. A lifting trucky comprisingA a Jmain frame, an elevating frame, asteering head 35 mounted on the main frame, a steering4 and liftingtongue operatively connected to said head, `a lever operativelyconnected to said head, a system of levers interconnecting said main andelevating frames and actuable to m lift said elevating frame, meansuniversally connecting said system for operation by said lever in anyposition of the steering head, and means for automatically connectingsaid lever with and disconnecting it from said steering .15 tongue. A

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this17th day ofy July, 1928.

WILLIAM STUEBING, JR. [i0

